used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR We had dinner in the little black-panelled room off the hall, Neil waiting on us with a great assiduity.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There had been a constant shower of delicacies rained on us from Damerstown, and we should have grown sybarites if we had cared about such things.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Now that the worst had happened and my grandfather's pride and courage had risen to meet it, it seemed to me that he looked better than he had looked for many months.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading I remember that there were pheasants on the table and my grandfather asked where they had come from.
assiduitynoun
great and constant diligence and attention
From this reading THE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR We had dinner in the little black-panelled room off the hall, Neil waiting on us with a great assiduity.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR We had dinner in the little black-panelled room off the hall, Neil waiting on us with a great assiduity.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading To be sure he was very pale, but he had a look of resolution which became him, instead of the cowed and burdened look he had worn of late.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading To be sure he was very pale, but he had a look of resolution which became him, instead of the cowed and burdened look he had worn of late.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There had been a constant shower of delicacies rained on us from Damerstown, and we should have grown sybarites if we had cared about such things.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Now that the worst had happened and my grandfather's pride and courage had risen to meet it, it seemed to me that he looked better than he had looked for many months.
black-panelled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR We had dinner in the little black-panelled room off the hall, Neil waiting on us with a great assiduity.
burdenedadjectiveUS /ˈbɜːrdənd/
bearing a heavy burden of work or difficulties or responsibilities
From this reading To be sure he was very pale, but he had a look of resolution which became him, instead of the cowed and burdened look he had worn of late.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading To be sure he was very pale, but he had a look of resolution which became him, instead of the cowed and burdened look he had worn of late.
past form of “care” — feel concern or interest
From this reading There had been a constant shower of delicacies rained on us from Damerstown, and we should have grown sybarites if we had cared about such things.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading I remember that there were pheasants on the table and my grandfather asked where they had come from.
unvarying in nature
From this reading There had been a constant shower of delicacies rained on us from Damerstown, and we should have grown sybarites if we had cared about such things.
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
From this reading Now that the worst had happened and my grandfather's pride and courage had risen to meet it, it seemed to me that he looked better than he had looked for many months.
cowedverbUS /kaʊd/
past form of “cow” — subdue, restrain, or overcome by affecting with a feeling of awe; frighten (as with threats)
From this reading To be sure he was very pale, but he had a look of resolution which became him, instead of the cowed and burdened look he had worn of late.
Damerstown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been a constant shower of delicacies rained on us from Damerstown, and we should have grown sybarites if we had cared about such things.
delicaciesnounUS /ˈdelɪkəsiz/
plural of “delicacy” — the quality of being beautiful and delicate in appearance
From this reading There had been a constant shower of delicacies rained on us from Damerstown, and we should have grown sybarites if we had cared about such things.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading THE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR We had dinner in the little black-panelled room off the hall, Neil waiting on us with a great assiduity.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading THE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR We had dinner in the little black-panelled room off the hall, Neil waiting on us with a great assiduity.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Now that the worst had happened and my grandfather's pride and courage had risen to meet it, it seemed to me that he looked better than he had looked for many months.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I remember that there were pheasants on the table and my grandfather asked where they had come from.
the father of your father or mother
From this reading I remember that there were pheasants on the table and my grandfather asked where they had come from.
grandfather'snounUS /ˈɡrændfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “grandfather” — the father of your father or mother
From this reading Now that the worst had happened and my grandfather's pride and courage had risen to meet it, it seemed to me that he looked better than he had looked for many months.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading THE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR We had dinner in the little black-panelled room off the hall, Neil waiting on us with a great assiduity.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading There had been a constant shower of delicacies rained on us from Damerstown, and we should have grown sybarites if we had cared about such things.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR We had dinner in the little black-panelled room off the hall, Neil waiting on us with a great assiduity.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading THE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR We had dinner in the little black-panelled room off the hall, Neil waiting on us with a great assiduity.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading Now that the worst had happened and my grandfather's pride and courage had risen to meet it, it seemed to me that he looked better than he had looked for many months.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading There had been a constant shower of delicacies rained on us from Damerstown, and we should have grown sybarites if we had cared about such things.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Now that the worst had happened and my grandfather's pride and courage had risen to meet it, it seemed to me that he looked better than he had looked for many months.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading To be sure he was very pale, but he had a look of resolution which became him, instead of the cowed and burdened look he had worn of late.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I remember that there were pheasants on the table and my grandfather asked where they had come from.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading There had been a constant shower of delicacies rained on us from Damerstown, and we should have grown sybarites if we had cared about such things.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR We had dinner in the little black-panelled room off the hall, Neil waiting on us with a great assiduity.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading To be sure he was very pale, but he had a look of resolution which became him, instead of the cowed and burdened look he had worn of late.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Now that the worst had happened and my grandfather's pride and courage had risen to meet it, it seemed to me that he looked better than he had looked for many months.
KNOCKINGnounUS /ˈnɑːkɪŋ/
the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)
From this reading THE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR We had dinner in the little black-panelled room off the hall, Neil waiting on us with a great assiduity.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading To be sure he was very pale, but he had a look of resolution which became him, instead of the cowed and burdened look he had worn of late.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR We had dinner in the little black-panelled room off the hall, Neil waiting on us with a great assiduity.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading To be sure he was very pale, but he had a look of resolution which became him, instead of the cowed and burdened look he had worn of late.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Now that the worst had happened and my grandfather's pride and courage had risen to meet it, it seemed to me that he looked better than he had looked for many months.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Now that the worst had happened and my grandfather's pride and courage had risen to meet it, it seemed to me that he looked better than he had looked for many months.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Now that the worst had happened and my grandfather's pride and courage had risen to meet it, it seemed to me that he looked better than he had looked for many months.
come together
From this reading Now that the worst had happened and my grandfather's pride and courage had risen to meet it, it seemed to me that he looked better than he had looked for many months.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Now that the worst had happened and my grandfather's pride and courage had risen to meet it, it seemed to me that he looked better than he had looked for many months.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Now that the worst had happened and my grandfather's pride and courage had risen to meet it, it seemed to me that he looked better than he had looked for many months.
Neil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR We had dinner in the little black-panelled room off the hall, Neil waiting on us with a great assiduity.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now that the worst had happened and my grandfather's pride and courage had risen to meet it, it seemed to me that he looked better than he had looked for many months.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading To be sure he was very pale, but he had a look of resolution which became him, instead of the cowed and burdened look he had worn of late.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading THE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR We had dinner in the little black-panelled room off the hall, Neil waiting on us with a great assiduity.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR We had dinner in the little black-panelled room off the hall, Neil waiting on us with a great assiduity.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading To be sure he was very pale, but he had a look of resolution which became him, instead of the cowed and burdened look he had worn of late.
pheasantsnounUS /ˈfezənts/
plural of “pheasant” — large long-tailed gallinaceous bird native to the Old World but introduced elsewhere
From this reading I remember that there were pheasants on the table and my grandfather asked where they had come from.
a feeling of self-respect and personal worth
From this reading Now that the worst had happened and my grandfather's pride and courage had risen to meet it, it seemed to me that he looked better than he had looked for many months.
rainedverbUS /reɪnd/
past form of “rain” — precipitate as rain
From this reading There had been a constant shower of delicacies rained on us from Damerstown, and we should have grown sybarites if we had cared about such things.
To recall to mind.
From this reading I remember that there were pheasants on the table and my grandfather asked where they had come from.
a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote
From this reading To be sure he was very pale, but he had a look of resolution which became him, instead of the cowed and burdened look he had worn of late.
risenadjectiveUS /ˈrɪzən/
(of e.g. celestial bodies) above the horizon
From this reading Now that the worst had happened and my grandfather's pride and courage had risen to meet it, it seemed to me that he looked better than he had looked for many months.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading THE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR We had dinner in the little black-panelled room off the hall, Neil waiting on us with a great assiduity.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Now that the worst had happened and my grandfather's pride and courage had risen to meet it, it seemed to me that he looked better than he had looked for many months.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading There had been a constant shower of delicacies rained on us from Damerstown, and we should have grown sybarites if we had cared about such things.
showernounUS /ˈʃaʊər/
a plumbing fixture that sprays water over you
From this reading There had been a constant shower of delicacies rained on us from Damerstown, and we should have grown sybarites if we had cared about such things.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading There had been a constant shower of delicacies rained on us from Damerstown, and we should have grown sybarites if we had cared about such things.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading To be sure he was very pale, but he had a look of resolution which became him, instead of the cowed and burdened look he had worn of late.
sybarites
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been a constant shower of delicacies rained on us from Damerstown, and we should have grown sybarites if we had cared about such things.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading I remember that there were pheasants on the table and my grandfather asked where they had come from.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Now that the worst had happened and my grandfather's pride and courage had risen to meet it, it seemed to me that he looked better than he had looked for many months.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Now that the worst had happened and my grandfather's pride and courage had risen to meet it, it seemed to me that he looked better than he had looked for many months.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR We had dinner in the little black-panelled room off the hall, Neil waiting on us with a great assiduity.
in or at that place or location
From this reading I remember that there were pheasants on the table and my grandfather asked where they had come from.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I remember that there were pheasants on the table and my grandfather asked where they had come from.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading There had been a constant shower of delicacies rained on us from Damerstown, and we should have grown sybarites if we had cared about such things.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Now that the worst had happened and my grandfather's pride and courage had risen to meet it, it seemed to me that he looked better than he had looked for many months.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR We had dinner in the little black-panelled room off the hall, Neil waiting on us with a great assiduity.
precisely as stated
From this reading To be sure he was very pale, but he had a look of resolution which became him, instead of the cowed and burdened look he had worn of late.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading THE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR We had dinner in the little black-panelled room off the hall, Neil waiting on us with a great assiduity.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To be sure he was very pale, but he had a look of resolution which became him, instead of the cowed and burdened look he had worn of late.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading THE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR We had dinner in the little black-panelled room off the hall, Neil waiting on us with a great assiduity.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I remember that there were pheasants on the table and my grandfather asked where they had come from.
in or at the place that
From this reading I remember that there were pheasants on the table and my grandfather asked where they had come from.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading To be sure he was very pale, but he had a look of resolution which became him, instead of the cowed and burdened look he had worn of late.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR We had dinner in the little black-panelled room off the hall, Neil waiting on us with a great assiduity.
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading To be sure he was very pale, but he had a look of resolution which became him, instead of the cowed and burdened look he had worn of late.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading Now that the worst had happened and my grandfather's pride and courage had risen to meet it, it seemed to me that he looked better than he had looked for many months.
